Tag: inspiration

Bible and Scripture, Christian

Transform Your Morning

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 7/12/26

The first thing I do every morning is to read and study my Bible. (Well, after I feed and walk Henry, my Yorkie. As you know, he is very bossy.)

When we get back, he gets in his dog bed and sleeps for a couple of hours. And I open my Bible.

This is my favorite time of the day. Do you know why? It’s because the Bible speaks to me every day, and so it becomes more dear to me every time I read it.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV (emphasis mine)

No other book in the world can do that, only the Bible. The word translated as “alive” is the Greek word zao. It is the same word Jesus used when He said,

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 NIV (emphasis mine)

Scripture is life-giving, not merely instructive, because the Bible is God speaking to you and me.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Encouragement

How To Encourage Someone

Cindy Dawson

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us… if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;” Romans 12:6,8 (Emphasis mine)

The Bible commands us to encourage one another. The following is a list of ways we can encourage someone.

HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ENCOURAGER

1. Listen. Listening is better than talking. We need to give the person we want to encourage focused attention. That means we are carefully listening to them, not just waiting for our turn to talk. (Ouch!) Having someone listen is the best medicine for a hurting heart.

2. Provide affirmation before offering help. This validates their feelings and struggles.

3. Be compassionate and caring. The thing your friend needs most may not be answers, but just someone to talk to, someone who cares, so they can share their hurts or worries safely.

4. Do not pretend to know what they are going through or tell them what happened to you.

5. Write them an encouraging note. Believe it or not, two or three sentences can turn a person’s day around. I have received many encouraging notes over the decades, and I have kept many of them to this day.

6. Pray for them and let them know you are praying.

Maybe the Holy Spirit will lead you to pray in a certain way. Or maybe He will guide you in what to say. Or maybe He just wants you to show love and compassion. If your friend wants your advice, she will probably ask for it.

For some, being an encourager is a spiritual gift, but it is something we must all do. Let the Lord guide you to those who need your encouragement.

I can’t tell you how many times a comment someone left on my blog turned my day around. Many times, the Holy Spirit is encouraging me through their message, but they probably had no idea how timely it was. In fact, this happens quite often.

“Encourage the disheartened” 1 Thessalonians 5:14

To be disheartened means to have lost hope, courage, or enthusiasm. It is a state of feeling discouraged, demoralized, or dispirited, often as a result of experiencing setbacks, failure, or unexpected difficulties. (Dictionary.com)

The definition of encouragement is: “The act of inspiring others with renewed courage, a renewed spirit, or renewed hope.”

Look around. People who need encouragement are all around you. Ask God to help you reach out to them.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Note: I have learned a lot about encouragement from David Jeremiah’s book, The Joy of Encouragement. I think you would, too.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo: Getty Images for Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Bible and Scripture, Christian

How Can I Hear God Speak to Me?

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for 7/8/26

“When I pray, I talk to God, but when I read the Bible, God is talking to me; and it is really more important that God should speak to me than that I should speak to Him. I believe we should know better how to pray if we knew our Bibles better. What is an army good for if they don’t know how to use their weapons?”
― D.L. Moody

If you want to hear God speak to you, open your Bible. God has a lot to say!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Yuri Efremov on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Israel & the Jews

Are You an Obadiah?

Cindy Dawson

Reflection for Monday, 7/6/26

“Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.” 1 Kings 18:3-4 NIV

A MESSAGE FROM AMIR TSARFATI

“As the man in charge of Ahab’s household, Obadiah found himself serving in the highest levels of a corrupt and godless government. Yet when Jezebel began slaughtering the prophets of the Lord, he quietly hid one hundred of them in two caves, fifty in each, and provided them with bread and water.

What a reminder for us today.

God may place you in a position of influence where you are surrounded by ungodliness and compromise. He hasn’t put you there for fame, success, or fortune. He has placed you there to serve Him in places where others have no access and to be a faithful witness in the midst of darkness.

When I was appointed deputy governor of Jericho at the age of twenty-one, I knew it was my faith that led the colonel to choose a lieutenant as his second-in-command. My promotion defied both logic and military convention, yet the governor sensed something in me that made him trust me more than others. I never hid my faith from him, even though he was an Orthodox Jew.

You may not be an Elijah- with all the bold confrontations, dramatic moments, and public displays of power.

But maybe, just maybe, you’re an Obadiah.

And that is no less significant in the kingdom of God.

Courage, faithfulness, and truth are rare commodities these days.

The Bible is filled with ordinary men and women whom God used to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of many.

Be one of them.”

A Message from Amir Tsarfati, on his Telegram Channel

Telegram is the one-stop shop for daily updates from Amir related to current events in the Middle East and what’s taking place around the world. Connect with Amir and Behold Israel HERE.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Israel & the Jews

God’s Promise to Israel

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Friday 7/3/26

“He remembers his covenant forever,
    the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
    the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
“To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as the portion you will inherit.” Psalm 105:8-11 NIV (emphasis mine)

“It is completely inconsistent to say you love the King of the Jews but despise the Jews of the King. So don’t let the ignorant antisemites of our day bully you into silence. If God has not cast off Israel – and He hasn’t – we shouldn’t either.” From the book UNTIL HE COMES by Amir Tsarfati and Barry Stagner

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Is God Calling You?

Cindy Dawson

For Your Reflection, 7/2/26

“He (Jesus) called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:2-6 NIV

We must not take these verses lightly. The Lord places great importance on the education of children. And I have to tell you, there is nothing that gives me more joy than when one of my former students (from my 2 to 4-year-olds class) comes up to me at church to give me a big hug. And that’s why I found the following quote by D.L. Moody so interesting.

Although the exact date of this quote is unknown, it is believed that toward the end of his life, after decades of ministry, D.L. Moody said this:

“If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.”

It was said of D.L. Moody, “Judged by the lasting results of his work, he shares honors with Lincoln as our greatest contribution to humanity in the nineteenth century.” Reverend D.W. Philpott, D.D., Chicago Tribune, February 5, 1928

If you think God is calling you to Children’s Ministry, say, “Yes, Lord. Send me.”

By the way, I was 6 years old when I asked Jesus into my heart. My daughter, who is now in full-time ministry, was only 4 years old when she gave her life to Jesus.

Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

God Will Comfort You

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 6/28/26

As I walked Henry, my Yorkie, early this morning, I noticed that the behavior of the robins had changed. The baby birds are hatching, and their parents are on the watch!

In the quiet of predawn, I remembered that I am under the watchful eye of the Savior. Just like these robins guard their hatchlings, God is guarding me. Just like He has done many times before, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind these words of Jesus:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

Baby robins are hatching!

Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” John 14:26 NASB

The Holy Spirit will bring you comfort and peace by reminding you of what God’s Word has said. This is God’s promise for all who trust and obey Jesus, our Savior. What He’s done for me, He will do for you.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

That’s Not What I Expected!

Cindy Dawson

Sometimes God has a plan that is nothing like our expectations.  If only we would trust Him, but instead we think we know what He should do. Learn how God just might do things in a completely different way than you expect!

Meet Naaman, the Commander of the Army of the King of Syria, a valiant soldier and highly regarded by the King. Naaman was wealthy and respected by everyone; he had prestige and servants, and he lived in grand style. I’m sure he had the best clothes, a beautiful home, and (you get the picture). Oh, he did have one little problem. He had leprosy.

His wife had her own personal servant girl, of course. Fortunately for Naaman, she was an Israelite. Even though she had been captured by a band of Syrian raiders, this little girl had compassion for her master. 

She said to her mistress,

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:3

Naaman reported this to the king. The king, anxious to see his best general cured of this egregious disease, sent Naaman to the King of Israel.

“So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.” 2 Kings 5:5 NLT

Naaman expected the King to cure him of his leprosy, but that is not what God had in mind. In fact, when the King of Israel discovered what Naaman wanted, he panicked, thinking the King of Syria was trying to pick a fight. (See how this is not going as expected?)

When Elisha, the prophet, heard about this, he sent for Naaman. So Naaman gathered his entourage, his horses and chariots, and paraded to Elisha’s door.

Naaman must have thought pretty highly of himself, making a grand arrival with all those horses and chariots, and lots of money. But Elisha doesn’t even bother to come out and greet him! Instead, Elisha sends out a messenger who says,

“Go wash yourself in the Jordan River seven times.” 2 Kings 5:10

Naaman expected the Prophet of God to dramatically wave his hands in the air and call on his God to cure him in some spectacular display. But once again, he did not get what he expected. 

Naaman expected to be treated with honor and respect, and when he was insulted, he refused to do what Elisha said and stomped off in a rage.

I know what you’re thinking: What!? How can Naaman be so stubborn? Doesn’t he want to be cured? 

But don’t we do the same thing? We pray for something, but it isn’t answered the way we expect. So we think our prayer isn’t being answered at all. Or, maybe we don’t like the way it is being answered.

It isn’t surprising that Naaman got angry. The Jordan River is a dirty, muddy river. You wouldn’t want to bathe in it either, especially if you tend to think rather highly of yourself. (Ouch!)

Only after his servants convince him, does Naaman agree to go and dip himself in the dirty river. When he followed God’s plan, he was completely cured, and his skin became like that of a young boy. Things turned out even better than he expected!

Naaman exclaimed,

“Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (v 15)

And he vowed to never worship any other god but the Lord.

Read the whole story of Naaman in 2 Kings chapter 5. (There’s a lot more to the story!)

And remember: God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we expect!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

DOES THE LIGHT HURT YOUR EYES?

Cindy Dawson

Devotion for Friday, 6/26/26

I have read so many great posts by the bloggers I follow! From time to time, I want to share some of the most provocative and inspiring ones.

DOES THE LIGHT HURT YOUR EYES? BY Steve Brewer, The Brew Is Amazing

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion [apostasy] occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”  (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4, NIV 1984). 

My Musings – What was true then is still true today.  The great apostasy or falling away from the truth of God’s Word must occur first.  The world has nothing to fall away from, so this must refer to a great part of the Church. 

A time when the truth does not move or convict as it once did.  An outright rejection of some or all of the truths contained in the Holy Scriptures that were once accepted by faith.  Claiming that what may have been true in the past is no longer so.  Or perhaps, asserting that it really doesn’t mean what was believed for all these centuries.  Are we really so much more enlightened than those who came before with our doubting, distorting, disputing, and denying? 

“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17–18, NIV).

 “Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me.’” (Matthew 26:31, NIV).  

My Advice –These are the words Jesus spoke to the eleven on the night He was betrayed.  And they all did, for a time.  Today, are we on the edge of “this very night” that Paul spoke about? As we see many denominations and congregations crumbling before our eyes, bowing to the pressure to conform to the culture rather than calling for the culture to be transformed, we must ask ourselves, “Where do we stand?” As the day gives way to night, we must

“choose for [ourselves] this day whom [we] will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14–15, NIV 1984).  

Stand firm, or fall away.  The time is fast approaching when the world will demand that you choose.  But more than they, so will the Master.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Richmond Fajardo on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

For Writers and Other Servants of God

Cindy Dawson

Wisdom for Thursday, 6/25/26

As Christian writers, sometimes we don’t feel like writing. It happens to all of us sometimes. But I have found that God honors our determination to obey Him. The same is true for teachers and pastors. Even when we don’t feel like doing our job, God is still faithful to help us. In fact, it’s often during those times when we feel the least capable that God helps us the most.

“Obedience means marching right on whether we feel like it or not. Many times, we go against our feelings. Faith is one thing, feeling is another.”

D.L. Moody

The Apostle Paul said, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog